Try Cat Psychology - Before All Else Fails

Cat psychology should help us recognize that when a cat misbehaves she is often only trying to tell us something . . .

Cats, wonderful creatures that they are, can be infuriating at times. They rarely listen to reason.

You can lecture them on the wrongs of scratching your furniture
till the cows come home; will they take it in?

Not a bit, unless of
course kitty herself has come to realize that the scratching post that
you provided for her has a much better surface to run her nails over.

You can try pulling out your hair. You can try becoming very frustrated at whatever your cat does that annoys you.

You can try asserting your authority by telling your cat that you
are the human and she is merely the cat and what you say goes around
here.

You could, if you want to try something that has no chance of
working, punish your cat for her unwelcome behavior.

But before you
attempt any of that stuff that is simply doomed to fail, why not try a
little cat psychology?

Can cats be trained? Yes they can, or rather they can be
persuaded to act in certain ways. Several breeds of cat, the Maine Coon
for one, can be persuaded to walk on a leash. Other cats take delight in
retrieving thrown balls or crumpled paper.

Domestic felines are not circus animals and are not predisposed
to performing tricks but with a little psychology they can be persuaded
away from bad cat behavior.

Cat Psychology or Medical Treatment?

Before you embark on your mission to use catology to persuade your cat
to mend her ways it would be best to ensure there is no medical reason
for your pet's behavior.

Humans and their cats should be able to live with each other without too many areas of discord.

If your cat normally has no problem with using the litter box and
suddenly starts using your carpet as a toilet there could be a health
issue, a urinary tract infection or Cat Diabetes, or Feline Kidney Disease.

A cat that has always been confident with humans who suddenly
refuses to let you pet her may be in pain from an injury, rather than
just being awkward.

A visit to your veterinarian will help ascertain if the cause of
your cat's unwanted behavior is a medical one, if your cat gets the all
clear, you can start to work to modify her ways.

Cat Psychology and the Feline View

Cats do not see the world in the same way as humans or use the same
thought processes as humans.

If a cat is shouted at or in some other way
punished for swinging on your drapes for an example, she will not
associate the punishment with swinging on the drapes but will associate
the punishment with you.

A gently but firmly spoken command "stop", or a clap of your
hands, may distract your cat from what she is doing but will not
necessarily persuade her not to do it again.

You may have success with a squirt bottle filled with water. A
fine mist sprayed on her coat each time she commits a naughty act may
eventually give her unpleasant associations with that act.

The psychological trick here is to be sneaky and not let kitty
know that the water came from your direction, don't let her see what you
are doing. With luck she will relate getting wet with what she is doing
and not with you.

Patience is a virtue here as it is anytime that you are trying to encourage your cat to change her ways.

Cats generally do not behave badly out of spite or vindictiveness
towards you.

If your feline companion is refusing to use her litter box
or Scratch Post,
constantly meowing, behaving aggressively, or is excessively nervous,
it is either because her view of what she is doing is different from
yours or there is an underlying reason for her behavior.

Cats and humans should be able to live together without too many areas of conflict. Often our feline pets try to communicate with us by using Cat Body Language but frequently we fail to take notice or misread the signals.

Cat psychology should help us recognize that when a cat misbehaves she is often only trying to tell us something. . . perhaps we should listen.